Gardai are warning the public about sextortion scams targeting unsuspecting internet users.
This type of email fraud involves extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity.
Victims typically receive emails from fraudsters alleging they set up malware on porn websites and claim they have access to their screen and webcam.
The scammer then demands a large sum of money while threatening to leak the video to the victim's contacts.
Gardai have advised the public against interacting with these con artists should they receive such emails.
A gardai spokesperson said: "The scammer has no photos or videos. Never send money to these scammers.
"Anyone can be a victim of sextortion. If you are a victim, report it to the gardai.
"If it is causing you worry then please talk to someone you trust."
This is the latest in a number of internet scams catching out the public.
A Dublin councillor urged people in recent days to be careful as a new sophisticated social media scam is doing the rounds.
The latest con clones Facebook users' accounts and targets people on their friends list.
Taking to social media, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Cllr Maurice Dockrell tweeted: "Just to warn people that there is a current spate of fraudsters cloning Facebook accounts of your friends telling you that you have money coming to you.
"Don't accept friend requests from people you already have as friends."
Cllr Maurice Dockrell told Dublin Live that he received a bogus Facebook friend request from someone who was already a friend.
He said: "An attempt was made today on my own Facebook when a friend asked to befriend me on Facebook, I wasn't paying too much attention and I knew the person reasonably well, so I clicked on it.
"Then I got a message saying that I was going to get $50,000 from a publishing firm.
"I knew it was a scam then so I didn't click the link. I blocked it and reported it and a few other people have had this scam be sent to them as well."
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